Povitica (Potica) Bread

Povitica (Potica) Bread

Povitica bread (for those not familiar) is an Eastern European nut roll that is traditionally gifted as a symbol of honor and respect. It's also called Potica (Po-TEE-tza) bread or Yugoslavian Christmas bread.

Last Thanksgiving I made perfect Povitica bread. I was so excited to bring it to our table, and to the people I love most. And heck, I was proud of myself. I had accomplished something that was considered challenging, and better left to experienced hands.i.e. Croatian/Slavic matriarchy

This year I have not fared as well. After two failed attempts I felt like throwing in the towel, but I didn't. Irked that a nut roll could make me feel so defeated, I decided then and there that I would specialize in the making of Povitica bread. I would make it my life's pursuit, if I had to make 20 loaves or 200, I would do it! As luck would have it, my next effort was genuinely acceptable. And to my relief, this will free up the rest of my life.

Things get dramatic in my kitchen, especially when bread is involved.

Here's an example of my first failed attempt. I wanted to make the snail shape because it was different from the loaf I made last year. I didn't knead the dough enough, so the gluten did not develop and the dough began breaking apart at the sides.

I baked it anyway.

What a mess.
Move along Babushka, there's nothing to see here.

I made a second attempt at the snail shape, and it failed again in the same way. After much frustration I went back to the loaf pan. And I kneaded the heck out of the dough after the first rise.

Success!

Povitica (Potica) Bread

The bread machine takes out much of the work in creating the dough. This also cuts down on babysitting the rising of this bread. Just remember to knead well after removing from the machine. Your dough should be elastic, and if you don't break a sweat trying to get it to the 1/8" thickness then you're not doing it right.

I just discovered your blog and I love it! I'm so glad that you made potica! My family has made this for generations. My husband grew up with a similar version but they always called it nut roll - we have a friendly argument going over the name. (Although I'm sure potica probably means nut roll.) Anyway, thanks for blogging!

I am from Slovenia where potica is considered as a national dish. The name probably comes from the word poviti which means to roll. The name does not involve the word nut, because you can make potica with many different fillings like for example it is realy good with tarragon filling. You can also make it not as a desert with for example cracklings (I hope this is a good translation, it should mean little pieces of fried pork). My mom makes a realy good one with coconut and chocolate. It is considered that you need experience to make a good potica, grandmothers make the best ones :).

so..i'm from croatia and we have same thing here... and i love it!what my mom used to do she would put some chocolate with nuts and couple of drops of rum and it's even better... :Dwe make this bread with poppy seeds as well and it's absolutely delicious!

Hello there! :)Potica is absolutely yummie yummie. :) I would like to agree that it's common for Eastern Europe but actually it is traditional Sloevenian dessert or pastry (it's protected or patterned). As my Croatian neighbour said it can be also filled with popy seeds or you can add some raisins in walnut potica as well.Ps: Dober tek (in Slovene) and best regards from Slovenia!

Oh my gosh I cannot believe I just found this recipe!! You have made my day it looks just like the potica my grandma made! She was Yugoslavian and I would beg her to make it for me every time I saw her. I have not had this in about fifteen years since she passed away... I am definitely going to need to make this!

Thank you thank you for sharing this. I have not had potica bread since I was a kid. My Mom bought it home from the hospital (she was a nurse) and I have loved it ever since but could not find the true potica. Will try this recipe. Thks again.